Dicken is a west-side neighborhood with shady streets and classic suburban-style one- and two-story homes. It includes Dicken Woods, a nature area behind the elementary school that was saved from development by neighbors and is now the site of school and community nature programs.
Small parks are sprinkled throughout the area. Mushroom Park is known for its comical ceramic fungi; Las Vegas Park has a soccer field and playground; and Greenview Park, on the west side of Seventh St., provides a natural retreat for dog walkers and picnickers.
On former croplands southwest of I-94 and north of Scio Church Rd., the Ravines and Meadowinds subdivisions went up at the turn of the millennium; they have amenities like tennis courts and playgrounds. Off Scio Church Rd. near Maple, the seventy-six-unit luxury Kensington Woods condominium community forms a sweeping circle. West of Upland Dr., the 1990s-era Uplands offer slightly larger brick and wood residences, often with decks.
Closer to the school are Surrey Park, with 176 ranch-style prefab units, and the older, 312-unit Park Place.
Homeowners in the area directly west of Pioneer High often rent out their driveways or yards to U-M football fans on game days.
Dicken grads go on to Slauson Middle School and then Pioneer High.
Bike lanes: Neighborhood arteries including W. Stadium, Scio Church Rd., and W. Liberty all have marked bike lanes. Pauline and S. Seventh have buffered bike lanes. Also, a bike-friendly route runs between Pauline and Scio Church Rd. via Runnymede Blvd. and Covington Dr.
Walking: Dicken School’s Walk Score is 34. Homes north of the school, as well as the Surrey Park, Park Place, Summit View, Walden Hills, and Walden Village complexes are close to shopping centers, restaurants, gas stations, and the many stores along Maple and Stadium.
